Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of drugs that include some of the most popular antidepressants on the market. They help to increase the levels of serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain, thereby reducing the symptoms of depression. However, some patients have reported an interesting side effect of SSRIs: lucid dreaming (LD).
A recent article in MEL magazine cites several ordinary people who have had such experiences. “When I was on a very high dose of my medication, I would lucid dream three to four times a week,” said 20-year-old Natalie from Illinois. She had never practiced LD before but after she started taking SSRIs she found that her dreams became more vivid and memorable. She could even influence the dream scenario and enjoyed various superpowers, such as flight and telekinesis.
Another patient, 17-year-old Selena from the Philippines, suffered from sleep paralysis and constant nightmares. Four months after starting taking antidepressants, she had an “overwhelming experience”: lucid dreaming. She was able to control her dreams every night for a month. However, she was unable to repeat this experience after changing medications.
For 33-year-old Nick from Illinois, antidepressants enhanced his already existing LD practice. He had managed to achieve lucidity in a dream before, but could not maintain steady results. After taking the medication, however, his lucid dreams became more intense.
According to London psychiatrist Mark Silvert, SSRIs increase the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, in particular serotonin. The brain becomes more active, which means that a person is likely to “feel things in a more vivid way,” including dreams. And if the dream “seems more real, you’re going to wake up and remember it.”
Have you had any experience using SSRIs? Did it affect your lucidity in a dream?
